Law enforcement pledge support for enhanced security in cmcss elementary schools
1. Subject: Montgomery County and Clarksville City Mayors, Law Enforcement
pledge support for enhanced security in CMCSS elementary schools
Dear Community Leader,
Thanks to support from Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan and County Mayor Carolyn
Bowers, CMCSS has worked out a collaborative security support plan with Clarksville City
Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. In the plan, off-duty armed city and
county law enforcement officers will be present in all elementary schools for the spring
semester, beginning this month.
In response to the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, CMCSS
administrators reviewed the current safety protocol and what might be done to enhance
practices already in place. The most immediate response taken in December was the
visibility and presence of law enforcement at elementary schools in the system.
Director of Schools Dr. B.J. Worthington said school administrators spent the days following
the school tragedy meeting with law enforcement reviewing current practices and procedures
and looking at what improvements could be made both in the short term and in the long term.
“There was never a question of us continuing to do business as usual, even though we have
had numerous external and internal reviews of our safety procedures. What happened in
Connecticut changed the world’s perspective of school safety,” Dr. Worthington said.
CMCSS will put into place off-duty officers in all elementary schools using funds available
from energy and fuel savings, as well as funds allocated for textbooks which were unspent
due to an unusually lower than projected student enrollment this year. However, the funding
will be sustainable for a limited time, requiring other resources to fully fund the plan. The
plan is only in place for the spring semester since the State General Assembly has indicated
possible legislation related to school safety may be forthcoming.
Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson emphasized: “Public safety is our number one
priority and these are our children. We will certainly do what is necessary to be proactive and
work to prevent a tragedy from occurring in our community.”
Montgomery County Mayor Bowers stated: “Even in tight budget times, we have to do what
we know is right. This is a national issue and we need to work together to take care of our
community. A collaborative effort in times like these is the key to providing our students and
educators with a learning environment where they can feel safe.”
Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan said: “This is a practical response to a very challenging
issue. The only way we can increase safety in our elementary schools right now is to work
together. I appreciate the steps that CMCSS has already taken and believe we should do
everything possible to protect our children.”
2. Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley added: “The Clarksville Police Department has a very
positive working relationship with CMCSS and we’re proud to be a part of this program. I
fully support these efforts and will do everything I can to help keep these students safe.”
The following are safety-related activities CMCSS already has in place:
• Building entry buzzer systems or building design to route visitors to office
depending on building design.
• Multiple surveillance cameras at every location.
• SRO’s at each middle and high school location.
Required safety drills including building lockdown drills are practiced at every
school at a minimum of four times yearly, along with monthly fire drills.
• Emergency Response Tabletop Drills sessions providing “mock emergency
scenarios” are conducted by the Risk Management / Safety Department, assisting
schools to put emergency plans into action.
• School safety protocol and procedures required at every school.
• Individual School Crisis Plans. The implementation and training is ongoing for
the School Crisis Plans, which are available to all local emergency response
agencies.
• CMCSS Staff members have completed 650 NIMS (National Incident
Management System) compliant training courses.
• Classroom Emergency Response Guides are in each classroom
• Transportation Emergency Response Guides are on each school bus and
Maintenance vehicle.
• School Emergency Information for Parents & Guardians booklets has been
provided.
• School Emergency Management teams are established at every location.
• A School Nurse is assigned to each location.
• District Level Emergency Response Tabletop Sessions conducted by the Risk
Management / Safety Department.